11-22-21<\/p>\n
Many Bible passages provide blessings over and over \u2013 meanings that are fresh, have new relevance, no matter how many times we read them. After uncountable translations through the ages, the Word of God proves itself \u201cinspired.\u201d Literally, God-breathed.<\/p>\n
As we are taught, it is alive and active, sharper then a sword\u2026 judging our thoughts and attitudes, but also encouraging us and uplifting. All things for all people, if we allow it to be.<\/p>\n
My daughter once did an exegesis of Psalm 46:10, dividing and finding a separate meaning in each word or phrase, as well as the entire verse \u2013 Be. Be still. Be still and know. Be still and know that I Am. Be still and know that I am God.<\/p>\n
This week, thinking ahead to Thanksgiving, I did a similar thing with the \u201cDoxology,\u201d the traditional musical prayer of the church, so named because it was Number 100 in an ancient hymnal. Meditate on it:<\/p>\n
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow. Praise Him, all creatures here below. Praise Him, above, ye Heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.<\/em><\/p>\n My parsing of those words was a little different. I challenge you, too, to think what is the most significant word or phrase in the prayer. I will quickly say that there is no right or wrong answer, which is my point about God-inspired passages being multi-faceted.<\/p>\n What I dwelt upon was the word \u201call.\u201d All blessings. God, from whom all<\/em> blessings flow.<\/p>\n We need, I think (I need, all the time), to be reminded that God does not send only a certain percentage of the blessings we enjoy. Given our own tendencies, we think that some good news, windfalls, happy events, successes, are from our own cleverness\u2026 or someone else\u2019s generosity\u2026 or good luck. Or dumb luck.<\/p>\n God forbid that we think that way.<\/p>\n All blessings are from Him. And as the Master of time, He knows what will flow (think upon that<\/em> word too!), even before we pray. Or don\u2019t pray. The Lord of the Harvest did not retire when most of His children didn\u2019t need to physically plant and cultivate and gather, as in the Pilgrims\u2019 day. We all still reap and sow, in every conceivable way.<\/p>\n All blessings\u2026 all creatures.<\/p>\n Thank God, too, that there are no \u201cloopholes\u201d or nuances in that truth. We are part of the Family of God.<\/p>\n And as His children, in this Year of our Lord, let us praise Him for His manifold blessings on our land\u2026 and remember to ask His forgiveness too for our many national sins. Could the Pilgrims, in that first formal gathering we envision, have looked into the future? Would they have given thanks for what America has become? Not our material harvests, for they are many; but our spiritual state? Do we offer praise to Him, as they solemnly did?<\/p>\n \u2026 Do we have that deep sense of Thanksgiving? Gratitude? Thankfulness?<\/p>\n And knowing Whom to thank?<\/p>\n + + +<\/p>\n